If you have ever shared a gondola with people coming from other parts of the world, you probably realize how Les 2 Alpes is a paradise with an incredible flying zone, fast lift rotation and stable weather patterns.
It’s without doubt a unique place, and our main goal is to keep it accessible for us and for next generations of pilots.
It is not ‘just another resort’, it’s a valuable training spot that can give you priceless skills for your big-mountain flying.
With years the spot is becoming more and more popular, and we are now at the point where the amount of Speedflyers is becoming an issue. So, each of us is bound to be responsible for how we fly and what we do in the air.
Speedflying Ethics is a collective effort and cannot be only practiced individually. Each of us cherishes that freedom that Speedflying offers: flying off wild mountains, exploring couloirs only accessible from air, being one-to-one with oneself. We’re sure that for many of you this aspect was the primary thing to enter the sport: its ungoverned nature, its autonomy and, obviously, the speed. However, a resort stays what it is: a public place we have to share with others, like people, paraglider pilots, helicopters and farmers. It is not a wild place to express your freedom and personality. It’s a place to gain skills and to transport them somewhere else. So, there are natural rules to follow, all of which are derived from the fact that we share this space with others.
Rule n°1 : Respect
The first and utmost rule is respect. Since we’re the fastest on the line, we are to be respectful to people who have no opportunity to be prepared for us. Paraglider pilots, bikers and hikers on trails do not expect us swooping past them, they are not prepared and they have no way to know if this is something you planned or it’s an accident and they are supposed to duck and protect themselves. Please be respectful and keep distance from pilots and people. For someone hiking on the trail you swooping by is not different from a huge rock rolling down a mountain face. This is not a pleasant experience for people and they are not going to be awed by your skills. If you do a flyby, plan it: do it with your friends, in a safe place, with no unwarned people around.
Rule n°3 : Infrastructures
The second rule is responsible use of infrastructure. We have a great opportunity to use the lift and — yes, unfortunately, — rescue helicopters. Stay away (30 meters) from cables and houses. Do not fly if there is a helicopter working on the line. Keep yourself updated and share in live the info about helicopters in the Telegram group. Rescuers are our biggest friends and we want to make their job easy and fast: let them pack the victim and leave without the need to check the airspace. The rescue helicopter knows our flying patterns and, when possible, it approaches in a way it’s easy to be seen and heard from the launch: be attentive and check the space before you go.
Rule n°3 : Flying space
The third rule is share airspace in a responsible way.
Since 1980 (approximately) L2A has been a home for a local paragliding club and they earn their living doing tandems and schools.
Their launch is at the same altitude as Les 2 Alpes village and we cannot fly over it under any circumstances.
Check the page of the lines and make sure you stay away from PG launch airspace.
We are here on vacation - let’s not put our leisure flights in a way of their work.
If you happen to be landing at the same time with a paraglider, remember that you’re much faster and thus you’re obliged to give them priority. Do not cross their approach line, do not cut them on the landing, do not swoop them in flight or when they just landed (remember, it’s still scary for people when you fly past). If you’re set for a nice swoop, but there is a paraglider coming in to your base point — be smart and cancel your plan. You can do that swoop next time — your pleasure now should not add grey hair to a tandem pilot, who has to avoid you in the air and put his passenger at risk.
Les Deux Alpes is a popular winter place for pilots who already know their wing and are friends with their skis : we do not have endless snowy slopes where you can do your first inflations or unlimited landing areas that you can’t miss.
Each of us is bound to be responsible for how we fly and what we do in the air.
Speedriding Ethics is a collective effort and cannot be only practiced individually.
Each of us cherishes that freedom that the sport offers: flying off wild mountains, exploring couloirs only accessible from air, being one-to-one with oneself.
A resort is a public place we have to share with others, like skiers, paraglider pilots and helicopters. It is not a wild place to express your freedom and personality. It’s a place to gain skills and to transport them in backcountry.
So, there are natural rules to follow, all of which are derived from the fact that we share this space with others.
Rule n°1 : Respect
The first and utmost rule is respect.
Since we’re much faster and enjoy a 3D space (compared to a 2D skier), it’s our responsibility to keep respectful distance to skiers on the slope. Having a pilot swooping within a couple of meters from your head istotally not a pleasant experience for people and they are not going to be awed by your skills.
If you do a flyby, plan it : do it with your friends, in a safe place, with no unwarned people around.
And remember : even the best pilots in the world make mistakes.
Rule n°3 : Infrastructures
The second rule is responsible use of infrastructure.
We have a great opportunity to use the lift and — yes, unfortunately, — rescue helicopters.
Stay away (30 meters) from cables and houses.
Stop flying if there is a helicopter working on the line. Do not hang around at helicopter LZs. Keep yourself updated and share in live the info about helicopters in the Telegram group..
Rescuers are our biggest friends and we want to make their job easy and fast : let them pack the victim and leave without the need to check the airspace. They already have too much work on the resort : be attentive and check the space before you go.
Rule n°3 : Flying space
The third rule is to share airspace in a responsible way.
Les Deux Alpes, since 1980 approximately, has been a home for a local paragliding club and they earn their living doing tandems and schools.
Main winter launch for tandems is at the bottom of Super Diable lift (marked by windsocks) – so speedriders must launch from another place. We have a lot of free space to not interfere with their work. If you happen to be in the air with a paraglider, give them priority and do not cut their line. Please use a dedicated landing area.
Check the the page for detailed flying info when preparing for your trip.
Ask local pilots (Paragliders and Speedriders) for any information you might need.
You can also join the Telegram group and remember : it’s our common responsibility to keep this place accessible and enjoyable.
If you see anyone abusing the rules, take several minutes to tell him about local ethics and/or give a link to this page.
Fly safe !
L2A Speedfly team